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For San Diego and the first-place Chargers, it’s complicated

Peter Aiken/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers protests a non-call after being hit in the helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on December 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Team owner Dean Spanos moved the team to Los Angeles after the 2016 season, after voters rejected the team’s bid for a downtown San Diego stadium. The move prompted some fans to disavow the Chargers forever, and it was easy the first year — the Bolts lost their first four games before battling back to finish 9-7.

The Chargers are 11-3, and are tied with Kansas City for the best record in the AFC. There is a chance that the Chargers could have home-field advantage in the playoffs.

“You feel a lot of mixed emotions, like excitement for who’s left on the team,” said Tim Hoover, a native San Diegan. “But at the same time it’s kind of like, they’re kind of dead to the world.”

Still, there are die-hard Charger fans in San Diego.

An estimated 250 packed into Cali Comfort Barbecue in Spring Valley to watch Thursday's 29-28, come-from-behind victory over the Chiefs.

Owner Shawn Walchef, wearing a Chargers had and jacket, said he and many are sticking by the team.

“It hurt that we couldn’t get something done as a city, it hurt that the organization couldn’t figure something out,” he said. “What can we control? It’s things we like to be happy about. We love cheering on our time, we love interacting with other Charger fans and that’s something that we’re going to keep doing."

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